Loop pin connecting device

ABSTRACT

Object is to improve the workability as well as to provide a safe loop pin connecting device. Because the loop pin connecting device comprises a grip lever rotatably pivoted to the grip section of the device proper, a driving arm rotated by the grip lever, the first pin holder section linearly traveling on the first guide rail by the driving arm, the first feeding pin mounted to the first pin holder section, the second pin holder section linearly traveling on the second guide rail by the driving arm, the second feeding pin comprising a flexible member whose base end is fixed to the second pin holder section, and the guide member for guiding the head end section of the second feeding pin and the guide member bends and its head end lowers to the first feeding pin position arranged with the height and horizontal position varied, entangling of the filament section is able to be prevented and occurrence of jams in operation is able to be prevented.

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of copendingSer. No. 09/559,425, filed Apr. 27, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a loop pin connecting device forconnecting clothes, socks, etc. or attaching tags such as brand labels,price tags, material description, instructions, etc. by inserting alatching piece to the product.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, in order to connect clothes, daily small articles,sandals, shoes, etc. or efficiently attach brand labels, price tags,etc. to relevant products, various loop pin connecting devices have beenused.

[0006] For example, the conventional loop pin connecting device forms aloop by inserting an inserting head section into a socket section heldto the head end of the guiding member formed nearly semicircularly bysuccessively feeding relevant loop pins from those temporarily fasteningintegrally with a joining bar a plurality of loop pins comprising aninserting head section and a socket section by grasping a hand-gun typelever. And the guiding member that holds the socket section was arrangedhorizontally.

[0007] However, because the above-mentioned conventional loop pinconnecting device employs a gear mechanism as a mechanism for feedingtwo sections of inserting head and socket sections by one grip lever,the mechanism was complicated and constituted causes of failure.

[0008] In addition, because the inserting head section and the socketsection must be held to the same height, the filament section was likelyto get entangled, and tended to cause jams.

[0009] Furthermore, when the inserting head section is inserted to thesocket section of the top pin, there were cases in which cracksoccurred.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea loop pin connecting device that can prevent loop pin jams as well asto prevent cracks from being generated when the inserting head sectionis inserted into the loop pin socket section. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide a loop pin connecting device that has asmaller number of parts, is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, andcauses less troubles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention basically adopts the configuration recitedas follows in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, thepresent invention comprises a grip lever rotatably pivoted to the gripsection of a main body portion of the device, a driving arm swung by thegrip lever, the first pin holder section that linearly travels on thefirst guide rail by the driving arm, the first feeding pin fixed to thefirst pin holder section, the second pin holder section that linearlytravels on the second guide rail by the driving arm, the second feedingpin comprising flexible member whose base end is fixed to the second pinholder section, and a guide member for guiding a tip end section of thesecond feeding pin, wherein the guide member is bent and its tip end islowered with inclination to a position at which a tip of the firstfeeding pin would be reached and which being three dimensionallydifferent from the position of said second feeding pin.

[0012] The loop pin connecting device according to the present inventionbends the guide member for guiding the head end section of the secondfeeding pin that presses out the socket section of the loop pin and atthe same time lowers its head end to the position of the first feedingpin arranged with the height and horizontal position varied, andmounting the loop pins with the horizontal height position varied canprevent entangling of the filament section.

[0013] In addition, allowing the cam member to change the travel speedof the first pin holder section in the vicinity of the dead end sectioncan prevent cracks from being generated when the inserting head sectionis inserted into the loop pin socket section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the internal structure of the looppin connecting device according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side view showing the feeding condition of the looppin connecting device according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the essential part ofthe second pin holder section of the loop pin connecting device;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing driving arc used for the loop pinconnecting device;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing the relation of the firstpin holder section to the driving arm used in the loop pin connectingdevice;

[0019]FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing showing the relation of the firstpin holder section to the driving arm used in the loop pin connectingdevice;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the loop pin connecting device;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the essential part ofthe guide member section of the loop pin connecting device according tothe present invention;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a front view partly broken away to show the loop mountedsection of the loop pin connecting device;

[0023] FIGS. 10(A) to (D) show an embodiment of a configuration of theloop pin and a group of loop pins;

[0024]FIG. 11 explains the problems a loop gun of the present inventionas shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, when it is used with a unit of loop pins;

[0025]FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a loop gun of the present inventionwhich can remove the above-mentioned problem therefrom;

[0026]FIG. 13(A), FIG. 13(B), FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show separateembodiments of a loop gun of the present invention which can remove theabove-mentioned problem therefrom; and

[0027]FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15 but shows another embodimentthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Referring now to drawings, the configuration of one specificexample of a loop pin connecting device according to the presentinvention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a side view showing theinternal structure of a loop pin connecting device according to thepresent invention. In this case, the loop pin connecting device 10according to the present invention comprises a grip lever 12 rotatablypivoted to the grip section 11 of a main body portion of the device, adriving arm 13 swung by the grip lever 12, the first pin holder section15 that linearly travels on the first guide rail 14 by the driving arm13, the first feeding pin 16 fixed to the first pin holder section 15,the second pin holder section 18 that linearly travels on the secondguide rail 17 by the driving arm 13, the second feeding pin 19comprising flexible member whose base end is fixed to the second pinholder section 18, and a guide member 20 for guiding a tip end sectionof the second feeding pin 19, wherein the guide member 20 is bent andits tip end is lowered with inclination to a position at which a tip ofthe first feeding pin 16 would be reached and which being threedimensionally different from the position of said second feeding pinwith height and horizontal position changed.

[0029] The second feeding pin 19 comprises a member with flexibilitysuch as densely wound coil springs, etc.

[0030] The grip lever 12, as shown in FIG. 1, is rotatably pivoted tothe pin 21 erectly built to the device proper and at the same time, onthe inside surface, the first cam 22 that comes in contact with the baseend section of the driving arm 13 is formed. By varying this cam profilesuitably, the travel speed of the first feeding pin 16 is able to bechanged. The first cam 22 is formed in such a profile to come in contactwith the roller 24 constantly at right angles even when the grip lever12 rotates around the pin 21.

[0031] The driving arm 13 is rotatably supported to the support shaft 23erectly built to the nearly center inside surface of the grip section11, with the base end section 13 a bent at right angles. In addition, tothe base end section 13 a, a roller 24 is rotatably mounted.Furthermore, to part 13 b of the driving arm 13, a spring member 25 withone end fixed to the grip section is tightly affixed. By this springmember 25, the driving arm 13 is energized to rotate clockwise.Consequently, the roller 24 at the base end section is energized in thedirection to constantly come in contact with the first cam 22.

[0032] The driving arm 13 is equipped with the second cam 26 for drivingthe first pin holder section 15. The second cam 26 has curved sections26 a, 26 b nearly symmetrically curved to both sides, as well as apointed arm 6 c at the top end. At the head end of the driving arm 13, ahole 13 c is formed, to which a link member 27 for linking the secondpin holder section 18 is rotatably connected. The link member 27 isconnected to the head end section of the driving arm 13 by an elongatedhole.

[0033]FIGS. 5, 6 are explanatory drawings showing the relation of thefirst pin holder section 15 to the second cam 26. FIG. 5 shows thecondition in which the grip lever 12 is not grasped and the driving arm13 is energized to rotate clockwise by the spring member 25 (see FIG.I). The first pin holder section 15 is moved in the right direction inthe figure by the curved section 26 b of the section cam 26, and thefirst feeding pin 16 also retracts to the depths. The second cam 26 isinserted into the recessed groove at the center of the first pin holdersection 15.

[0034]FIG. 6 shows the condition in which the grip lever 12 is graspedand the driving arm 13 is rotated counterclockwise against the springmember 25 (see FIG. 2). The first pin holder section 15 is moved to theleft direction in the drawing by the pointed head section 26 c of thesecond cam 26, and the first feeding pin 16 is also protruded to the topend. The relation of the first pin holder section 15 to the second cam26 is that the at first the recessed groove side wall of the first pinholder section comes in contact with the curved section 26 a, but as thedriving arm 13 rotates successively, the notched section 26 d of thesecond cam comes in contact, and the feed speed of the first pin holdersection 15 temporarily reduces in the vicinity of the dead end. Inaddition, at the final stage, the pointed head section 26 c falls intothe small recessed section 15 a formed on the recessed groove side wall,and the first pin holder section 15 is able to be held in thiscondition.

[0035] The second pin holder section 18 is linked to the driving arm 13via the link member 27, and is guided by the second guide rail 17 tocarry out linear movement (see FIG. 3 ). When the driving arm 13 rotatescounterclockwise, the link member 27 that has been pressing the secondpin holder section 18 in the form of inverse V letter form rotates in atoggle form at the elongated hole section, and changes the travel speedof the second pin holder section 18 in the vicinity of the dead endsection. That is, when the link member 27 rotates in the toggle form,the second pin holder section 18 scarcely moves. With this mechanism,jumping of the second feeding pin 19 is able to be prevented.Consequently, the socket section is able to be held and fixed to thehead end of the guide member 20. In addition, the socket section thathas arrived at the head end of the guide member 20 in advance can bekept waited.

[0036] Next description will be made on the application procedure of theloop pin connecting device configured as above. First of all, mount theloop pin 28 to the mounting section from the top surface of the device.The loop pin 28 is arranged with the socket section 28 a set higher andthe inserting head section 28 b set lower as shown in FIG. 9. Thisgradient is equivalent to the gradient of the guide member 20.

[0037] Grasping the grip lever 12 rotates the driving arm 13, whichrotates around the pin 21 and comes in contact with the grip lever viathe roller 24, counterclockwise against the spring member 25. When thedriving arm 13 rotates, the first pin holder section 15 engaged with thesecond cam 26 advances along the first guide rail 14. When the first pinholder section 15 advances, the first feeding pin 16 fixed to this feedsone inserting head section 28 b forwards.

[0038] When the driving arm 13 rotates, the link member 27 connected tothe head end rotates to advance the second pin holder section 18 alongthe second guide rail 17. Because the second pin holder section 18 islocated still further from the rotation center of the driving an-n 13,it advances at a speed faster than that of the first pin holder section15. Because the distance in which the socket section 28 a arrives at thehead end position while passing through the guide member 20 is longerthan that in which the inserting head section 28 b advances straight,the moving stroke should be set longer accordingly. The moving timing ofboth should be set in such a manner that the socket section 28 a arrivesfirst and thereafter the inserting head section 28 b arrives next toengage.

[0039] Because the first feeding pin 16 has the advancing speedtemporarily reduced in the vicinity of the dead end section where itprotrudes by the structures of the second cam 26 and the first pinholder section 15 and at the same time latched at the protruding deadend section, it is possible to prevent cracks from being generated inthe loop pin. Furthermore, because the feeding pin is latched in theprotruded condition, the inserting head section is securely affixed tothe socket section.

[0040] Because the second pin holder section 18 is linked to the headend of the driving arm 13 via the link member 27, it rotates in the formof toggle at the section of hole 13 c and stops the movement of thesecond pin holder section 18 at the dead end section. That is, when thelink member 27 rotates around the hole 13 c, the second pin holdersection 18 scarcely advances. With this mechanism, jumping back of thesecond feeding pin 19 is able to be prevented, and the socket section 28a is able to be held and fixed to the head end of the guide member 20.

[0041] And another embodiment of this invention, a loop pin connectingdevice for connecting the inserting head section to the holder sectionof the loop pin having an inserting head section at one end section of afilament section and a holder section for receiving the inserting headsection at its other end section, the loop pin connecting devicecomprising the first feeding pin 16 for holding the inserting headsection of the loop pin arranged at the predetermined first position, ona tip end section of said first feeding pin 16 and for moving, saidinserting head section to the scheduled connection position of theinserting head section and the holder section, and the second feedingpin 19 for holding the holder section of the loop pin arranged at thepredetermined second position on a tip end section of said secondfeeding pin 19 and for moving said holder section to said scheduledconnection position, and the first and the second positions beinglocated on the loop pin connecting device with a specified distanceprovided for each other, and the individual stroke lengths of the firstfeeding pin 16 and the second feeding pin 19 being established by onedriving arm 13 rotatably installed by a grip section 11 mounted to amain body portion of the loop pin connecting device proper.

[0042] The stroke length of the second feeding pin 19 is set longer thanthe stroke length of the first feeding pin 16.

[0043] The first engaging position in which the first feeding pin 16directly or indirectly engages with the driving arm 13 differs from thesecond engaging position in which the second feeding pin 19 directly orindirectly engages with the driving arm 13, respectively.

[0044] The distance between the position of rotation center axis of thedriving arm 13 and the second engaging position is set longer than thedistance between the position of rotation center axis and the firstengagement position.

[0045] The first position and the second position are separated eachother by a specified distance in the horizontal direction, as well asseparated each other by a specified distance in the vertical direction.

[0046] The second feeding pin 19 is configured in such a manner that itis guided inside the guide member protruded in the form of curvaturefrom the second position to the first position.

[0047] The tip end section of the guide member in the form of curvatureis arranged at the position intersecting the axis of the first feedingpin 16 and at the scheduled connection position of the inserting headsection and the holder section of said loop pin.

[0048] Next, a method for using the loop pin connecting device(hereinafter referred to as a loop pin gun), utilizing a unit of looppins, in which a plurality of loop pins are parallely arranged andfastened to each other with connecting bars, will be explainedhereunder.

[0049] First of all, an explanation about an embodiment of aconfiguration of a respective loop pin and a unit of loop pins which illbe used in the loop pin gun of the present invention, will be given withreference to FIG. 10.

[0050] Note that, each of the loop pins has a configuration as shown inFIG. 10(A) to FIG. 10(D), such that the loop pins comprise an insertionhead 3 provided on one end portion 60 of a filament 2 and having anappropriate mating part 6 and a socket portion 5 provided on the otherend 30 of the filament 2 and having a hole 4 provided with blockingblades 16 therein for irreversibly passing the insertion head 3.

[0051] The loop pin 1 is so formed that the filament 2, the insertionhead 3 and the socket portion 5 are integrally formed as one body.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10(D), when the insertion head 3 has beeninserted into the socket portion 5 through its hole 4, the appropriatemating part 6, which may be a step-like portion, for example, canfixedly engaged with the blocking blades 16 so that the insertion head 3cannot move in the opposite direction to its insertion direction, thuspreventing the insertion head 3 from being removed from the socketportion 5 easily.

[0053] In the present invention, since the loop pin 1 is used to attachit to specific commercial goods to maintain a suitable tag or label onthe filament 2, utilizing a mechanical operation, the above-mentionedloop pin gun 10 of the present invention is used.

[0054] In the present invention, when each one of the loop pins 1 isused to be attached to such commercial goods by being shot outrespectively by the loop pin gun 10 of the present invention, a unit ofloop pin 9 is desirably used.

[0055] Note that in the unit of loop pin 9 of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 10(A), a plurality of the loop pins 1 are arranged inparallel to each other and are temporarily attached to a pair ofconnecting bars 8 and 8′ with a weak connection link 11 and 11′ which iseasily cut by a suitable portion provided on the loop pin gun 10 so asto easily separate each one of the loop pins 1 from the connecting bars8 and 8′.

[0056] In the present invention, the connecting bar 8 is provided on orin the vicinity of the insertion head 3 while the connecting bar 8′ isprovided on or in the vicinity of the socket portion 5, respectively.

[0057] When a unit of loop pins 9 is mounted on the loop pin gun 10 andeach one of the loop pins 1 is shot from the gun 10, as shown in FIG.11, the unit of loop pins 9 is first bent so as to have a configurationsimilar to a U-shape by closing the connecting bars 8 and 8′ to eachother, and thereafter, each tip portion of the connecting bars 8 and 8′is inserted into insertion vertical grooves 32 and 32′ (which are shownin FIG. 13(B)), respectively, so that the unit of loop pins 9 is set onthe loop pin gun 10.

[0058] After that, every time an operating lever 18 a is actuated, theabove-mentioned mechanism is operated and a loop pin transferringmechanism is also actuated so that each of the loop pins 1 is shot oneby one a loop is created.

[0059] On the other hand, as a result of the operation of this loop pingun 10, the connecting bars 8 and 8′ separated from the unit of loop pin9 are simultaneously output downwardly from the loop pin gun 10.

[0060] In this situation, as shown in FIG. 11, such connecting bars 8and 8′ moving downwardly will impinge on or contact the skin of thefingers of an operator, thereby causing the operator to feeluncomfortable in operating the loop pin gun 10 as well as the operatorbeing damaged on his or her hands.

[0061] Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention of theloop pin gun 10, as shown in FIG. 12, a pari of guiding passages 50 and50′ are provided on an external side surface of the loop pin gun 10whereby the connecting bars 8 and 8′ separated from the unit of looppins 9 are guided therethrough to a rear portion of the loop pin gun 10so as to withdraw the same therefrom without touching a hand of anoperator.

[0062] Note that FIG. 12 does only show a guiding passage 50 but anotherguiding passage 50′ is of course provided on an opposite side surface ofthe loop pin gun 10 (not shown in FIG. 12).

[0063] In this embodiment, the guiding passages 50 and 50′ are connectedto the insertion vertical grooves 32 and 32′, respectively.

[0064] On the other hand, in a separate embodiment of the presentinvention as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the guiding passages 50 and 50′can be formed as a groove, a hollow pipe, a simple guide plate or guidering or the like.

[0065] Further in this embodiment, in order to maintain a smoothmovement of the connecting bars 8 and 8′ through and within guidingpassages 50 and 50′, a suitable feeding means for positively feeding theconnecting bars 8 and 8′, therethrough in response to the operation ofthe operation lever 18 a, may be provided along the line of guidingpassages 50 and 50′ or at a suitable position closer to the insertionvertical groove 32 and 32′.

[0066] For example, a roller or a gear roller which is positively rotateor a cam or a latch which is moved in a predetermined constantdirection, can be used for this purpose.

[0067] Alternatively, the connecting bars 8 and 8′ per se, can be madeof a flexible belt-like member or a film-like member each of whichpreferably has a small thickness.

[0068] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the connecting bars 8 and8′ can be withdrawn from inside a main body of the loop pin gun 10 at aposition bent by a suitable guide plate 60 so as to be guided to a rearportion of the loop pin 10 via several guide rings 70, for example, theguiding passages 50 and 50′ of which are different from that as shown inFIG. 12 which is a tube-like member.

[0069] Another example of the present invention will be explainedhereunder with reference to FIG. 16.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 16, although this example is basically identicalto those of the previous examples as mentioned above, a differencetherefrom is that a part of the guiding passage 50 (50′), for example,around a first one third of the whole length of the guiding passage 50(50′) is formed inside the main body of the gun and the remaining partthereof, for example, around the last two thirds thereof is formed on anexternal side wall of the gun so that the guiding passage 90 (90′)comprises an open-type groove formed along the external side wall of thegun.

[0071] Therefore, an operator can easily observe the connecting bars 8and 8′ while they are running through this open-type groove of theguiding passage 90 (90′).

[0072] The present invention is not intended to be limited to theabove-mentioned embodiment, but various design changes are possiblebased on the technological ideas of the present invention.

[0073] The present invention adopts the configuration as describedabove, and since the loop pin group is able to be mounted to the devicewith the height position of the socket section and the inserting headsection varied, respectively, entangling of the filament section is ableto be prevented, and occurrence of jams is able to be impeded while itis in operation. Consequently, the working efficiency is able to beimproved. In addition, since the width of the device is able to bereduced, the workability is increased.

[0074] Furthermore, because the feeding speed of the first feeding pinis ale to be restricted in the vicinity of the dead end, it is possibleto prevent generation of cracks in the loop pin. In addition, since thesecond feeding pin is able to held in the form of a toggle near the deadend, the loop pin socket section is able to be held to the head endsection of the guide member, and jumping back operation is able to beimpeded. Consequently, reliable engagement of the loop pin is able to beachieved.

1. A loop pin connecting device for connecting the inserting headsection to the holder section of the loop pin having an inserting headsection at one end section of a filament section and a holder sectionfor receiving the inserting head section at its other end section, theloop pin connecting device comprising the first feeding pin for holdingthe inserting head section of the loop pin arranged at the predeterminedfirst position, on a tip end section of said first feeding pin and formoving said inserting head section to the scheduled connection positionof the inserting head section and the holder section, and the secondfeeding pin for holding the holder section of the loop pin arranged atthe predetermined second position on a tip end section of said secondfeeding pin and for moving said holder section to said scheduledconnection position, and the first and second positions being located onthe loop pin connecting device with a specified distance provided foreach other, and the individual stroke lengths of the first feeding pinand the second feeding pin being established by one driving armrotatably installed by a grip section mounted to a main body portion ofthe loop pin connection device.
 2. The loop pin connecting deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the stroke length of the second feeding pinis set longer than the stroke length of the first feeding pin.
 3. Theloop pin connecting device according to claim 1 wherein the firstengaging position in which the first feeding pin directly or indirectlyengages with the driving arm differs from the second engaging positionin which the second feeding pin directly or indirectly engages with thedriving arm, respectively.
 4. The loop pin connecting device accordingto claim 1 wherein the distance between the position of rotation centeraxis of the driving arm and the second engaging position is set longerthan the distance between the position of rotation center axis and thefirst engagement position.
 5. The loop pin connecting device accordingto claim 1 wherein the first position and second position are separatedeach other by a specified distance in the horizontal direction, as wellas separated each other by a specific distance in the verticaldirection.
 6. The loop pin connecting device according to claim 1wherein the second feeding pin is configured in such a manner that it isguided inside the guide member protruded in the form of curvature fromthe second position to the first position.
 7. The loop pin connectingdevice according to claim 1 wherein the tip end section of the guidemember in the form of curvature is arranged at the position intersectingthe axis of the first feeding pin and at the scheduled connectionposition of the inserting head section and the holder section of saidloop pin.